by Stephanie Hogue
I have been a photographer for a long time…25 years to be exact. I have also seen a lot of photos. When I saw the work of Steve Munch, my breath was taken away. His work has a simplicity and elegance I have never seen before when it comes to wildlife. It almost looks as though it were photographed in a controlled environment like a studio. If I had not been by his side for some of these shots, I may have been suspicious. His work celebrates the beauty of these ocean dwellers that many of us will never get to see so up close and intimate.
The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.
– Jacques Cousteau
I was immediately enamored with their powerful beauty and playful curiosity. This ancient breed of horses are semi wild but cared for by the guardians (cowboys) who dedicate their lives to these amazing creatures. It was so special to observe the relationships between the horses and also the bonds with the guardians.
After galloping through the water they would take breaks by playfully rolling in the sand, or soaking up the sunshine as the salt water dried on their glistening coats. Other more curious horses would come up close, nudging for a scratch or give us a little nibble. They are known for their intelligence, agility and stamina.
There were lots of foals… ready and eager to get in on the fun. The babies are born a darker color and lighten as they get older.
Being marshland, it was best to dress for deep water so we could get in close. One misstep and that would be the end of my camera gear.
This guy had a sense of humor and enjoyed sneaking up and tugging on my scarf when I wasn’t watching!
One thing we weren’t expecting, was to hear from our Latitudes Family who lost their homes, so quickly after the fire. It seemed strange to us that replacing lost artwork was so high on anyone’s list. But we came to discover something we never really knew before- artwork has a power that we just don’t realize. When you are uprooted unexpectedly, and staring at blank walls in a new place with nothing that feels like home, familiar artwork can be the anchor that you need to begin to recover again. Looking around a room and seeing your favorite little turtle or landscape of your town, or the pier that you and your partner picked out years ago, can give you hope for tomorrow. We didn’t know how much our artwork impacted people on such a subconscious level until now, and we are truly humbled by it. Objects carry with them energy and stories. To hear that “she just wants her Two Trees back on the wall”, breaks our hearts and opens us up deeper and in new ways, every time. It makes us understand ourselves and others better, it makes us better artists, and, better humans.
This Saturday is our first Arts & Eats since the Thomas Fire. We are dedicating the event to our community. We will be highlighting images of our hillsides and towns impacted by fire to remind us all that we are stronger together and that we will rebuild, recover, and grow. That there is hope for tomorrow.
